First kakariki released into Abel Tasman National Park

Twelve kakariki or yellow-crowned parakeet released
into the Abel Tasman National Park today are the first
captive raised kakariki to ever be released onto the New
Zealand mainland.

It is also the first bird release
undertaken as part of privately funded Project Janszoon and
the Department of Conservation’s 30-year partnership to
restore the ecology of the Abel Tasman National Park.

Releasing the kakariki has only been possible because of
extensive predator control undertaken by Project Janszoon
that should provide safe habitat for the native birds in the
upper reaches of the Park. Project Janszoon Director Devon
McLean says it is a very special day for the Trust.

“Two and a half years into the project we have reached
a milestone where we now feel that the high altitude part of
the Park is safe to start bringing native birds back. We
believe the extensive stoat trapping network we have
installed has suppressed predators to the point where these
kakariki should flourish,” he says.

The twelve
young kakariki were bred at Lochmara Resort in Queen
Charlotte Sound from wild adult birds caught by Project
Janszoon on Long Island in the Marlborough Sounds. They were
transferred to an aviary in the Abel Tasman National Park
two weeks ago in order to adjust to their new environment.

Project Janszoon native parrot specialist Rosemary
Vander Lee says when the birds are released from the aviary
today it is hoped they will pair with the Park’s few
surviving kakariki and breed prolifically now that predators
are being controlled.

“This release is perfectly
timed while there is still a small relict population of
kakariki surviving in the high country and coinciding with
the rollout of comprehensive and on-going pest control.
Furthermore these young will be released at a time when
there is a massive seeding of beech in the park and they
will have a surfeit of food to tide them over winter,” she
says.

DOC's Motueka Conservation Services Manager
Mark Townsend says the release celebrates the turning of the
tide for native species in the Abel Tasman.

“Many
bird species like mohua (yellowhead) have been lost to
relentless predation over the years in the Abel Tasman,
while some are just hanging in there like kaka. With the
phenomenal investment in predator control by Project
Janszoon and the considerable volunteer support of the Abel
Tasman Birdsong Trust this pressure is beginning to ease. I
feel privileged to witness this bird release,” he
says.

Over 15,000 hectares or 70% of the Abel Tasman
National Park now has a stoat trapping network. In the
event of a beech mast where abundant feed would see stoat
and rat numbers surge, the trapping network will be
complemented by the use of aerial 1080 pest control.

After the release it will be necessary to keep an
outside feeder operating by the aviary for as long as it is
used by the birds. This initial cohort of 12 birds should
be followed by many more in future years with Lochmara
Resort, EcoWorld Aquarium and Tui Nature Reserve all raising
kakariki on behalf of Project Janszoon for eventual release
into the Park.

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